Flushing valve



F. G. CURTIN FLUSHING VALVE Jan. 16, 1934.

Filed Jan. 30

7 Ill Patented Jan. 16, 1934 FLUSHING VALVE Frank G. Curtin, Medford, Mass.

Application January 30,

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to flushing valves for water closets and more particularly to flushing valves of the general type described in the Curtin Patent No. 1,283,473 dated November 5,

The object of the present invention is to. provide improvements in the flushing valve of the general type disclosed in the above-mentioned patent, with a particular view to controlling the time of operation of the valve. To this end, the present invention consists of the flushing valve hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claim.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the preferred form of flushing valve according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the valve disk; and Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a sleeve member 4 which is received in a suitable opening in the tank and which forms the outlet of the flushing valve. The sleeve terminates at its upper edge in a valve seat 6 which is engaged by a valve disk 10 presently to be described in detail. Secured to the sleeve member 4. is a threaded flange 12 carrying a cage 14 within which the valve disk is free to move vertically. The cage 14.- supports a plate 16 forming the bottom surface of a float chamber 18. Within the chamber is a float 20, preferably of hard rubber.

As shown in Fig. 3, the valve member comprises the disk 10 having a central upstanding post 22 and an inwardly projecting threaded stem 24. A washer 26 is clamped to the under side of the disk by a clamping plate 23 engaged by a nut 30 received on the threaded stem 24. The float 20 is secured to the upper end of the post 22 by means of a threaded rod 32, the post passing through the central discharge opening 34 in the bottom plate 16 of the float chamber.

One of the principal features of the present invention is the provision on the upper surface of the disk of a spacing projection illustrated as a concentric raised ring 36 which engages the under surface of the plate 16 when the valve is open. This forms a small closed water chamber between the plate 16 and the disk when the latter is moved to its uppermost position. It will be understood that normally the valve disk is held in its closed position of Fig. l by the pressure of the water on its upper surface which overbalances the buoyancy of the float. To flush the valve, the float and disk are manually raised, thereby bringing the ring 36 into contact with the bottom plate of the float chamber, thereby 1933. Serial No. 654,180

permitting water to discharge through the outlet sleeve 4. The disk is temporarily held in the raised position by the buoyancy of the float, the water pressure on the upper surface of the disk having been removed. As the level of water in the tank falls, water slowly flows out of the small discharge opening 34, and the disk is ultimately freed from the bottom of the float chamber and descends to its closed position.

One of the disadvantages of the valve shown in the above-mentioned Curtin patent is that the disk tends to stick against the bottom plate of the float chamber. This follows because the discharge opening is closed by the valve, thereby preventing discharge of water from the float chamber, and the valve is held up by the buoyancy of the float, thereby preventing separation of the disk from the bottom plate of the float chamber.

If the surfaces of both parts are smooth, so that water cannot run out of the chamber, the valve may hold up indefinitely.

According to the present invention, the ring 36 makes for a controlled holding of the valve in its open position. Although the ring 36 may seat firmly against the bottom plate 16, a small 0 body of water runs from the chamber and fills the space within the ring and between the disk and plate. The static pressure of the water in the chamber is communicated to the surface within the ring and ultimately frees the valve 35 from the plate. This action requires a definite and substantially uniform time. The time of operation of the valve may be closely controlled by varying the diameter and height of the ring 36. It has been found that with a valve disk 2 /,ths inches in diameter, it is satisfactory to make the ring about 2 inches in diameter and nd of an inch in thickness. This causes the disk to hold up about three or four seconds before starting its descent. By making the ring of smaller diameter, the pressure of the water in the space within the ring is lessened, and the valve holds up for a longer time. Similarly, by making the ring of less height, the time of operation may be increased. On the other hand, if the ring is made larger or higher, the time of holding may be diminished. It has been found that the time of operation is almost entirely dependent on the dimensions of the ring 36.

In flushing valves of this general type, the time of operation has been controlled by controlling the rate of descent of the valve disk and this control has been effected by varying the size of the discharge opening. In such constructions, the valve disk has not been permitted to close tightly against the bottom of the float chamber and hence no sealing action has been obtained. It has therefore been necessary to use a discharge opening of very small size, so that the water flows out of the float chamber very slowly. As a result, the valve closes gradually from its uppermost position, and the valve tends to impede the flow of flushing water through the outlet. Furthermore, in order to obtain sufficient delay in closing, the opening must frequently be made with such small clearance that is likely to become clogged by small pieces of dirt.

According to the present invention, the time of operation of the valve is controlled, not primarily by the rate of descent of the valve, but by the time of holding of the disk against the plate. After being lifted, the valve automatically holds up in its uppermost position for a definite period, sufficiently long to permit almost complete flushing, and afterwards it descends comparatively quickly. It is therefore unnecessary to make the opening 34 of small size; since the time of operation is more effectively controlled by the ring 36, the opening may be sufliciently large to prevent plugging by any particles of dirt that are likely to find their way into the float chamber.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A flushing valve comprising a valve seat, a valve disk, a float connected with the valve disk, a float chamber enclosing the float and having a small discharge opening above the valve disk, and a concentric raised ring formed on the upper surface of the disk to engage the bottom of the float chamber and to hold a small quantity of water when the valve is moved upwardly away from its seat.

FRANK G. CURTIN. 

